12/03/2007 @ 6:00PM

In Pictures: Hidden Household Toxins

Mold

According to the Centers for Disease Control, mold itself is not toxic, but it can produce toxins that cause uncomfortable physical reactions like upper respiratory difficulty, wheezing or skin irritation. Mold grows in poorly ventilated, moist areas and in materials like wood, drywall, carpet and upholstery. Colleen Mathews, a specialist in indoor air quality for the Environmental Protection Agency, says that reactions to mold should dissipate upon leaving an affected area. If you suspect mold is responsible for an adverse physical reaction, examine your home’s ventilation system, particularly in the bathroom and north-facing rooms, which often experience high levels of moisture.